Catalent Pharma Solutions is increasing spray drying capacity at its Pharmatek, San Diego, CA, facility with the installation of an additional GEA Niro Mobile Minor unit. The expanded capabilities are being introduced in response to market demand for solubility enhancement solutions, and are expected to be validated for cGMP use by the end of April 2017. To further support the development of spray-dried dispersions, Catalent has also installed a third Gerties Mini-Pactor at its San Diego site. A high pressure, precision roller compactor, the Mini-Pactor is expected to be validated by early May 2017.

Catalent acquired Pharmatek in September 2016, to add early-phase drug development capabilities from preclinical to clinic, bringing spray drying into Catalent’s portfolio of drug formulation and delivery technologies, and expanding Catalent’s capability for handling highly potent compounds.

“This is the first of several strategic investments that we have planned for the San Diego facility in the immediate future,” said Barry Littlejohns, president, drug delivery solutions, Catalent. “Last year’s acquisition of Pharmatek, and its spray drying capabilities, enables us to provide customers with a comprehensive suite of solubility and bioavailability enhancement solutions, while complementing and expanding Catalent’s OptiForm Solution Suite platform, our science-driven parallel screening approach to identify for customers the optimal formulation pathway for poorly soluble compounds.”

Catalent’s Pharmatek site in San Diego is a cGMP site that employs nearly 200 people, providing development and analytical services for more than 120 molecules annually. The facility comprises 68,000 square feet of laboratory, manufacturing and support space, with two analytical labs, two formulation labs, four engineering rooms and nine certified ISO class 8 manufacturing suites. The site also features 18,000 square feet of laboratory, manufacturing and support space dedicated to development and manufacturing of highly-potent compounds.